Monday, February 28, 2011

The last time I was in Manila Zoo was when I was around 7 years old, on a school field trip. I haven't been back since then because of the horrendous condition I knew it was in. Lately though, I have been hearing a lot about the "improvements" done to the place, so I decided to take my daughter as an alternative to another disappointment, The Manila Ocean Park (a really tiny water park with expensive entrance fees and not much else to offer, but 100 times cleaner than Manila Zoo, okay to visit once, but after 4 times it feels like you're throwing your money away in the wind).

I don't intend to sound like a snob but the area Manila Zoo is located in isn't the best of all areas found in Manila. I think it is one of the more forgotten locations. Being a stranger to the place for more than twenty years, I wasn't expecting much of a crowd when I got there because this zoo has been unpopular in my circle for years. I was surprised and disappointed when I saw the crowd trying to get into the zoo. There were a lot of people! Maybe not such a good decision on my part to go on a Sunday afternoon...But despite the cue we got it in fairly quick. My husband said I was totally naive for thinking the crowd would be sparse.

Entrance for adults is P40 and kids below 4 feet get in for only P20. A real bargain compared to Ark of Avilon's (in Tiendesita's) P400* entrance fee.

Right when you enter, this darling elephant welcomes you. I swear, she is such a sweetheart but I also pity her for having to spend her days isolated and living on a cement floor. I read somewhere that it greatly affects elephants psychologically when they are caged in cement floor areas for long periods of time. They have a hard time adjusting. I wish they would grass up the area...This elephant likes putting her food on her head:

Maybe to keep herself cool from the scorching sun? Or from the ignorant people who keep pestering her? I had to give an adolescent boy the "evil eye" when I caught him throwing rocks at this elephant. I don't get how some people get a "macho trip" by inflicting harm on creatures who can't fight back. It really irks me and I wish I could've done more, like take him by the ear and feed him to the crocodiles! (which there were no sign of in this zoo)

On a happier note, we decided to make a hard left, get away from the crowd, pay a little extra and enter the Kinder Zoo, which is supposedly a new addition to Manila Zoo. To get in the Kinder Zoo, you need to pay an additional P70 per individual. If you plant to visit Manila Zoo, I strongly suggest you enter the Kinder Zoo, this was the highlight of our trip. The Kinder Zoo is a small, interactive zoo created for kids where they can personally handle the animals on exhibit. Zoo handlers in the Kinder Zoo are also extremely courteous and helpful.

family photo with the Boa:

my Britney Spears moment:

my daughter riding the Ostrich:

these parrots kept pecking at my hair:

they're beautiful...

in Manila Zoo, there is an abundance of Parrots, Monkeys, Turtles and Snakes. Many of them from the same species but in different cages.

This monkey in diapers, stole my heart. He feels just like a baby in my arms :)

Moving on to the main zoo and the more political area of this post...if you are an animal lover, the main zoo is greatly depressing.

Check out this photo of the tiger's confines:

For a green and tropical country, I would expect there to be more grass and maybe fill up that pool on the left side so the tiger can cool himself during the hot periods which we often get in our country. Instead, it is barren land laden with trash...

The holding area for the single horse, goat, llama, zebra looks more like a concentration camp to me...

This peacock has lost all it's beautiful tail-feathers...

The animal cages littered with the trash:

I took this excerpt directly from our government's Manila Zoo page:

"On July 25, 1959, the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden opened its doors to the public. It serves as one of the educational centers in the country where the viewing public can observe, discover and learn interesting facts about the beauty of Philippine fauna and flora.

Manila Zoo has a land area of 5.5 hectares and has a current population of about 500 animals. There are 106 species, among which are 30 different kinds of mammals, 63 reptile species and 13 types of birds. In addition to popular zoo occupants such as elephant, tigers lions and the hippos, Manila Zoo also houses several endemic and indigenous species of animals like the bearcat, long-talied macaques and crocodiles." - taken directly from http://www.manila.gov.ph/manilazoo.htm

As is the custom in our country, I believe and see that there is great corruption involving our zoo. For a place that is supposedly a "zoological and botanical garden" that will serve as an educational center for our youth, this zoo is certainly lacking in any flora, even humble species present at many home gardens were nowhere to be found. In fact, I didn't even find an area dedicated to plant species. The zoo is terribly dry giving the impression of a great drought. The cages that housed the animals were pitiful and dirty. Half the time, we didn't even know what kind of animal we were looking at for lack of signs. And the entire time, we found ourselves walking around aimlessly, trying to chance upon the cages of animals we would like to see for lack of a clear and updated map of the entire zoo.

Manila Zoo looks like it was built in 1959, loaded with animals and then left to be forgotten and fend for itself. I cannot reiterate enough how much it is lacking in upkeep and maintenance. I don't believe that money is an issue because I saw the droves of people entering the zoo. The place is littered with empty and depressing cages. Even the ponds housing some animals are littered with empty juice containers and snack boxes. It is really sad and frustrating to see these animals being forced to live in conditions such as these. If our government cannot afford to maintain our zoo, I'd rather they send all the animals to protected areas/conservatories, and just shut the goddamn zoo down. If anyone from PETA is reading this, please try to do something about it.

To the government: you need to educate Filipinos about the importance of taking care of our animals and natural resources. Your zoo is filled with disrespectful, arrogant and ignorant people who see the animals as a side-show and not for the beautiful and wild creatures that they are. The roads within your zoo is dirtier than the street I live in. Hire a task force to control littering in the zoo. Take care of your goddamn animals. It's not that hard to clean the cages once in awhile and water the plants. No wonder progress is slow to come to our country. How can you improve yourself if you have no respect for others?

Another hippie look...seriously love the '70's! I can go a bit overboard sometimes. I was born in the wrong decade. I would've loved to be kickin' it during 1965-75 but I was born in '79....The last of the mohicans. :)

Planning to take my daughter to the zoo today so I'll see you all later. Have a great weekend!!!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

If you have been following my blog for awhile now, you will notice that a lot of the stuff I wear is reworked vintage clothes, belts and accessories from my Mamita (my grandma). This is a photo of her in red with big "Jackie O." shades taken years ago on a boat on their way to a friend's beach house. Fabulous isn't she? A lot of fun too. Beside her is our beloved "Papahoney"(my grandpa). The first man in my life. I miss and love him dearly.

I spent half my life living my grandparents. I am greatly influenced by their upbringing and style ;) As a child I longed for colorful sneakers, baggy pants, and cartoon shirts. Instead they would buy me oxfords, loafers, khaki's, a-line skirts and the like. I was a really preppy kid. I remember Papahoney telling me that you can judge a man/woman from his shoes. I was never allowed to leave the house with dirty/scuffed footwear. When I reached high school, I was allowed more freedom with the way I dressed although I remember how much he despised my Doc Marten's (hahaha) but later on, funny enough, he got me my first and most favorite pair of clogs from Candies. Wore those babies to death.

It mattered a lot to Mamita and Pahoney how you present yourself. Most especially during social gatherings. Mamita would plan her outfits weeks ahead and would most often require a trip to her favorite couture. She used to drag me along on fittings, forcing me to have my clothes sewn by him rather than buying things "off the rack". She used to say there were too many pieces of a certain piece of clothing found "off the rack" and it would be dreadful to find yourself wearing the same outfit as somebody else at the same time. I hated it then but now I wish I had the financial capability to dress that way. Their style philosophies also benefit me a lot now since I was able to recover and use so many of her old things. I just wish I was able to save more. A lot had been given away before I realized to incorporate them in my personal wardrobe.

As you can tell, I am very close to them and I miss her terribly when she's not in the country.She just recently returned from her trip abroad, among the things she brought home for me were these:I have always been a huge Crunch fan but this one really takes the cake! It is so delicious!!! I saw several more in her ref. I plan to raid it on my next visit. I haven't seen this in any of the stores here yet. It is LOVE! If anybody out there knows where I can buy this, please let me know.

She also brought me home my own personal pair of Dany's by Jessica Simpson. I am now officially a fashion blogger! Hahaha! I love them so much and the leather on them smell great as well. Haven't worn them yet though. Looking for that special occasion. They are quite high. My highest shoe yet and I thought I had some high ones already! Gotta break them in soon.

ps. I am really frustrated with the look of my blog right now. I find it messy but I don't know how to fix it! :(

Did a facebook page for my blog a few weeks ago but just got it up and running last night (well not really but I'm slowly getting there.) Please "Like" if you have the time.

I'll try to do an outfit post later in the day. Have a great day! Thanks for all the lovely compliments.

Friday, February 25, 2011

gray/white cropped tee from Ash

mamita's belt

Protest shorts

golddot Alfreda Wedges

Wore this to the mall for some errands today. Wasn't planning on staying out long but ended up having dinner out at Ristra's for some gigantic Mexican burritos. Also caught a glimpse of a fabulous Barbie exhibit with clothes from different fashion designers. I was hitting myself over the head for not bringing the camera with me. Took photos with my phone instead but I have yet to upload. Weather's been back to kinda chilly, had to wear a light, gray cardigan over this.

I know I am a few days late but I was on vacation during his birthday and without a computer. I have been contemplating on wether or not to post this but I just felt like I had to. Kurt has always had his own personal home in my heart since I was 11.

The music that started it all for me....

I remember vividly this particular issue of Rolling Stone magazine that came out right after his death. I used to have a copy but was lost when my mom transferred homes while I wasn't around...It was dear to my heart.

My adolescent stage was a rocky period for me. I did not go through it gracefully. It was pockmarked with trouble and uncertainties. I was experiencing emotions I was not capable of dealing with yet. A lot of days were spent alone in my room, mulling things over while submerging myself in music and sometimes the occasional joint or pint. Music was my saving grace and I found both my voice and refuge through the lyrics of Nirvana.

Kurt was a reluctant hero for the youth of my decade. Through his music we found release and acceptance. An exclusive club for outcasts and street urchins. Yes it was not cool that he killed himself in the end and it was quite dumb for all those other kids to commit suicide themselves after hearing news of his death but that is just the way things are and being where I was at the time I could totally relate and sympathize. Contrary to popular belief, Kurt was actually a very sensitive introvert whose heart was too gentle and meek for this world. He was not a macho rockstar and he never even really wanted to be one. He was an antithesis. He wanted to create music, not be a superstar. While writing those songs, he never expected that their popularity would shoot out of proportion. He was not prepared for all the gossip and allegations directed towards them.

To me, Kurt was more than just an idol or rock icon. He was my brother-in arms. When I was lonely, he would tell me it was okay. When I was angry or trudged upon by people, he would scream out a huge "Fuck You!" for me. His death was a gigantic blow to my very young and innocent existence. I remember crying over him in my room. I lit candles and paid my own "personal style" novena to him. It was a moment filled with anguish and frustration. Why did he give up at such a young age? It was unfair that he left "us" to deal with the bullshit alone.

It's been years since then. I have matured a lot and I have finally found myself. I am at my happiest. It was a rocky journey getting to where I am but I have learned a lot from my experiences getting here. Kurt was the force that pushed me to explode when I needed to. Without those explosions, an implosion might have happened instead. I needed release and he gave me that. Kurt Cobain is a remarkable artist. A genius of his time. I would like to recall him as that. Let us celebrate his life and his art rather than his death.

He was not just the frontman for Nirvana. He was a father, a lover and a son. A person just like you and me who needed to be heard and understood.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

I am really a beach/outdoorsy/nature-loving type of person and I find it extremely hard to transition back into my condo dwellings after a nice vacation. Manila weather doesn't help much either. One minute, it's breezy, the next it's sweltering hot. Even mall airconditioning systems don't help. Sometimes it's freezing cold and other times it seems like they turn it off for awhile to save up on electricity leaving you hot in your sweater.

I'm not sure if I'm the only one who experiences this but after a beach trip, I feel like my body still retains a lot of the heat even after a day of being back in the city. It's like my skin gets really used to being almost totally naked and prefers to reject any piece of clothing attempting to attach itself to it.

When I got back from my trip, I stared at my closet and was dumbfounded, as in a total blank. The weather was too warm for layering but too cold for tank tops and shorts. I tried slipping myself into a pair of jeans but I hated the feeling of being "trapped" in such constricting leg conditions (haha!) so I immediately took them off.

What's the best and easiest thing to wear when you don't know what to wear? Black and white. A nice and comfortable white top is essential in anyone's closet. They are lifesavers. Pair with black shorts, pants, or skirt and you're good to go. No brainer. Easiest thing ever. Just put on some statement shoes or bag and you'll look slick in no time!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

All Access!!! Yeah Baby!

The Malasimbo event was held on sacred Mangyan grounds. The first ever event allowed on their turf. It was a natural amphitheater, breathtakingly beautiful and remote. Perfect for an event such as this one. To get there, you need to ride in one of many shuttle services provided by the event organizers, up the steep mountain. From there, it's a long trek down and a real pain heading up on the way home.

The mountainside was littered with numerous installation art pieces by Olivia d'Boville (I think so, not so sure about this one), more photos of the art in my part 3 (we had 3 cameras with us and I still need to sort things out)

Adjacent to the concert area was a sort of museum which featured the various traditional houses of the Mangyan tribe: such a beautiful treehouse...I always wanted one...

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Busy, busy, busy day today for me. I feel a little overwhelmed! Another thing that's dragging my spirits down a little bit is that my period came yesterday, making me feel a bit sluggish. What's more disappointing is that it came more than a week delayed and it couldn't have chosen a better time to appear! I'm off for a music festival in the BEACH (!) tomorrow so that might mean no swimming for me =( I hope it's gone by then or at least eases up A LOT. Really been looking forward to this trip and I don't wanna end up sitting it out on the shore.

Part of my "to do list" for Today:

Fix my daughter's things for 3 nights..

Drop her off at mom's

A lot of last minute shopping for the trip

Visit the courier

Tweeze my eyebrows

Plan my outfits

Pack

I'm sure there's a bunch of other things but this is all i can deal with right now. Listing it down makes it seem less daunting. Have a great day!!!!

oh, and Yahoo for 166 followers! Thanks C! Couldn't have done it without you! Mwah! =)

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Good Morning Ladies! Today, I would like to talk about "personal shopping bans". They don't work PERIOD. I tried putting myself on a ban about a month ago because I noticed that I've been buying too many pairs of shoes. I know there's no such thing as "too many" when it comes to shoes but the way it affected my bank account was short of staggering! haha (i'm exagerrating a little. I have a very small bank account and any blow to it, no matter how small, is staggering.). It came to a point when I had more shoes than clothes that I could match it with. That's not when the alarm set off. It set off a few weeks after I started compensating my over supply of shoes with clothes to match them with. At the same time, my credit card bill arrived, my cellphone bill arrived, and all sorts of other bills arrived. That's when I said, "uh-oh".

So, I declared a personal shopping ban on myself. Right when this ban was implemented, I felt immediately like a heroin addict with my daily supply taken away from me. The moment something interesting came my way, I HAD to have it. And funny enough, right when my ban started, everything seemed to either go on sale or have a fresh supply of new and lovely clothes and footwear on display. I ended up buying more things than when I wasn't on "the ban". It's like how a chronic dieter must feel when presented with a box of premium Belgian chocolates. You'd normally have just a piece or two on a regular day but since you've been so good for three days, you compensate and eat the whole box. Ending up you eat/spend more than you would normally do due to over compensation for our good behavior. Sometimes, I think we love ourselves just a little too much! haha!

Right now, I feel sort of trapped. I'm just wishing myself luck and a bigger income because I don't know what to do. Maybe I should move to a deserted island for a month just to stay away from all the retail. it doesn't help that I live a block away from a "super awesome" shopping center. I need all the restraint I can muster! Tell me, do personal shopping bans work for you?

Monday, February 28, 2011

The last time I was in Manila Zoo was when I was around 7 years old, on a school field trip. I haven't been back since then because of the horrendous condition I knew it was in. Lately though, I have been hearing a lot about the "improvements" done to the place, so I decided to take my daughter as an alternative to another disappointment, The Manila Ocean Park (a really tiny water park with expensive entrance fees and not much else to offer, but 100 times cleaner than Manila Zoo, okay to visit once, but after 4 times it feels like you're throwing your money away in the wind).

I don't intend to sound like a snob but the area Manila Zoo is located in isn't the best of all areas found in Manila. I think it is one of the more forgotten locations. Being a stranger to the place for more than twenty years, I wasn't expecting much of a crowd when I got there because this zoo has been unpopular in my circle for years. I was surprised and disappointed when I saw the crowd trying to get into the zoo. There were a lot of people! Maybe not such a good decision on my part to go on a Sunday afternoon...But despite the cue we got it in fairly quick. My husband said I was totally naive for thinking the crowd would be sparse.

Entrance for adults is P40 and kids below 4 feet get in for only P20. A real bargain compared to Ark of Avilon's (in Tiendesita's) P400* entrance fee.

Right when you enter, this darling elephant welcomes you. I swear, she is such a sweetheart but I also pity her for having to spend her days isolated and living on a cement floor. I read somewhere that it greatly affects elephants psychologically when they are caged in cement floor areas for long periods of time. They have a hard time adjusting. I wish they would grass up the area...This elephant likes putting her food on her head:

Maybe to keep herself cool from the scorching sun? Or from the ignorant people who keep pestering her? I had to give an adolescent boy the "evil eye" when I caught him throwing rocks at this elephant. I don't get how some people get a "macho trip" by inflicting harm on creatures who can't fight back. It really irks me and I wish I could've done more, like take him by the ear and feed him to the crocodiles! (which there were no sign of in this zoo)

On a happier note, we decided to make a hard left, get away from the crowd, pay a little extra and enter the Kinder Zoo, which is supposedly a new addition to Manila Zoo. To get in the Kinder Zoo, you need to pay an additional P70 per individual. If you plant to visit Manila Zoo, I strongly suggest you enter the Kinder Zoo, this was the highlight of our trip. The Kinder Zoo is a small, interactive zoo created for kids where they can personally handle the animals on exhibit. Zoo handlers in the Kinder Zoo are also extremely courteous and helpful.

family photo with the Boa:

my Britney Spears moment:

my daughter riding the Ostrich:

these parrots kept pecking at my hair:

they're beautiful...

in Manila Zoo, there is an abundance of Parrots, Monkeys, Turtles and Snakes. Many of them from the same species but in different cages.

This monkey in diapers, stole my heart. He feels just like a baby in my arms :)

Moving on to the main zoo and the more political area of this post...if you are an animal lover, the main zoo is greatly depressing.

Check out this photo of the tiger's confines:

For a green and tropical country, I would expect there to be more grass and maybe fill up that pool on the left side so the tiger can cool himself during the hot periods which we often get in our country. Instead, it is barren land laden with trash...

The holding area for the single horse, goat, llama, zebra looks more like a concentration camp to me...

This peacock has lost all it's beautiful tail-feathers...

The animal cages littered with the trash:

I took this excerpt directly from our government's Manila Zoo page:

"On July 25, 1959, the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden opened its doors to the public. It serves as one of the educational centers in the country where the viewing public can observe, discover and learn interesting facts about the beauty of Philippine fauna and flora.

Manila Zoo has a land area of 5.5 hectares and has a current population of about 500 animals. There are 106 species, among which are 30 different kinds of mammals, 63 reptile species and 13 types of birds. In addition to popular zoo occupants such as elephant, tigers lions and the hippos, Manila Zoo also houses several endemic and indigenous species of animals like the bearcat, long-talied macaques and crocodiles." - taken directly from http://www.manila.gov.ph/manilazoo.htm

As is the custom in our country, I believe and see that there is great corruption involving our zoo. For a place that is supposedly a "zoological and botanical garden" that will serve as an educational center for our youth, this zoo is certainly lacking in any flora, even humble species present at many home gardens were nowhere to be found. In fact, I didn't even find an area dedicated to plant species. The zoo is terribly dry giving the impression of a great drought. The cages that housed the animals were pitiful and dirty. Half the time, we didn't even know what kind of animal we were looking at for lack of signs. And the entire time, we found ourselves walking around aimlessly, trying to chance upon the cages of animals we would like to see for lack of a clear and updated map of the entire zoo.

Manila Zoo looks like it was built in 1959, loaded with animals and then left to be forgotten and fend for itself. I cannot reiterate enough how much it is lacking in upkeep and maintenance. I don't believe that money is an issue because I saw the droves of people entering the zoo. The place is littered with empty and depressing cages. Even the ponds housing some animals are littered with empty juice containers and snack boxes. It is really sad and frustrating to see these animals being forced to live in conditions such as these. If our government cannot afford to maintain our zoo, I'd rather they send all the animals to protected areas/conservatories, and just shut the goddamn zoo down. If anyone from PETA is reading this, please try to do something about it.

To the government: you need to educate Filipinos about the importance of taking care of our animals and natural resources. Your zoo is filled with disrespectful, arrogant and ignorant people who see the animals as a side-show and not for the beautiful and wild creatures that they are. The roads within your zoo is dirtier than the street I live in. Hire a task force to control littering in the zoo. Take care of your goddamn animals. It's not that hard to clean the cages once in awhile and water the plants. No wonder progress is slow to come to our country. How can you improve yourself if you have no respect for others?

Another hippie look...seriously love the '70's! I can go a bit overboard sometimes. I was born in the wrong decade. I would've loved to be kickin' it during 1965-75 but I was born in '79....The last of the mohicans. :)

Planning to take my daughter to the zoo today so I'll see you all later. Have a great weekend!!!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

If you have been following my blog for awhile now, you will notice that a lot of the stuff I wear is reworked vintage clothes, belts and accessories from my Mamita (my grandma). This is a photo of her in red with big "Jackie O." shades taken years ago on a boat on their way to a friend's beach house. Fabulous isn't she? A lot of fun too. Beside her is our beloved "Papahoney"(my grandpa). The first man in my life. I miss and love him dearly.

I spent half my life living my grandparents. I am greatly influenced by their upbringing and style ;) As a child I longed for colorful sneakers, baggy pants, and cartoon shirts. Instead they would buy me oxfords, loafers, khaki's, a-line skirts and the like. I was a really preppy kid. I remember Papahoney telling me that you can judge a man/woman from his shoes. I was never allowed to leave the house with dirty/scuffed footwear. When I reached high school, I was allowed more freedom with the way I dressed although I remember how much he despised my Doc Marten's (hahaha) but later on, funny enough, he got me my first and most favorite pair of clogs from Candies. Wore those babies to death.

It mattered a lot to Mamita and Pahoney how you present yourself. Most especially during social gatherings. Mamita would plan her outfits weeks ahead and would most often require a trip to her favorite couture. She used to drag me along on fittings, forcing me to have my clothes sewn by him rather than buying things "off the rack". She used to say there were too many pieces of a certain piece of clothing found "off the rack" and it would be dreadful to find yourself wearing the same outfit as somebody else at the same time. I hated it then but now I wish I had the financial capability to dress that way. Their style philosophies also benefit me a lot now since I was able to recover and use so many of her old things. I just wish I was able to save more. A lot had been given away before I realized to incorporate them in my personal wardrobe.

As you can tell, I am very close to them and I miss her terribly when she's not in the country.She just recently returned from her trip abroad, among the things she brought home for me were these:I have always been a huge Crunch fan but this one really takes the cake! It is so delicious!!! I saw several more in her ref. I plan to raid it on my next visit. I haven't seen this in any of the stores here yet. It is LOVE! If anybody out there knows where I can buy this, please let me know.

She also brought me home my own personal pair of Dany's by Jessica Simpson. I am now officially a fashion blogger! Hahaha! I love them so much and the leather on them smell great as well. Haven't worn them yet though. Looking for that special occasion. They are quite high. My highest shoe yet and I thought I had some high ones already! Gotta break them in soon.

ps. I am really frustrated with the look of my blog right now. I find it messy but I don't know how to fix it! :(

Did a facebook page for my blog a few weeks ago but just got it up and running last night (well not really but I'm slowly getting there.) Please "Like" if you have the time.

I'll try to do an outfit post later in the day. Have a great day! Thanks for all the lovely compliments.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Wore this to the mall for some errands today. Wasn't planning on staying out long but ended up having dinner out at Ristra's for some gigantic Mexican burritos. Also caught a glimpse of a fabulous Barbie exhibit with clothes from different fashion designers. I was hitting myself over the head for not bringing the camera with me. Took photos with my phone instead but I have yet to upload. Weather's been back to kinda chilly, had to wear a light, gray cardigan over this.

I know I am a few days late but I was on vacation during his birthday and without a computer. I have been contemplating on wether or not to post this but I just felt like I had to. Kurt has always had his own personal home in my heart since I was 11.

The music that started it all for me....

I remember vividly this particular issue of Rolling Stone magazine that came out right after his death. I used to have a copy but was lost when my mom transferred homes while I wasn't around...It was dear to my heart.

My adolescent stage was a rocky period for me. I did not go through it gracefully. It was pockmarked with trouble and uncertainties. I was experiencing emotions I was not capable of dealing with yet. A lot of days were spent alone in my room, mulling things over while submerging myself in music and sometimes the occasional joint or pint. Music was my saving grace and I found both my voice and refuge through the lyrics of Nirvana.

Kurt was a reluctant hero for the youth of my decade. Through his music we found release and acceptance. An exclusive club for outcasts and street urchins. Yes it was not cool that he killed himself in the end and it was quite dumb for all those other kids to commit suicide themselves after hearing news of his death but that is just the way things are and being where I was at the time I could totally relate and sympathize. Contrary to popular belief, Kurt was actually a very sensitive introvert whose heart was too gentle and meek for this world. He was not a macho rockstar and he never even really wanted to be one. He was an antithesis. He wanted to create music, not be a superstar. While writing those songs, he never expected that their popularity would shoot out of proportion. He was not prepared for all the gossip and allegations directed towards them.

To me, Kurt was more than just an idol or rock icon. He was my brother-in arms. When I was lonely, he would tell me it was okay. When I was angry or trudged upon by people, he would scream out a huge "Fuck You!" for me. His death was a gigantic blow to my very young and innocent existence. I remember crying over him in my room. I lit candles and paid my own "personal style" novena to him. It was a moment filled with anguish and frustration. Why did he give up at such a young age? It was unfair that he left "us" to deal with the bullshit alone.

It's been years since then. I have matured a lot and I have finally found myself. I am at my happiest. It was a rocky journey getting to where I am but I have learned a lot from my experiences getting here. Kurt was the force that pushed me to explode when I needed to. Without those explosions, an implosion might have happened instead. I needed release and he gave me that. Kurt Cobain is a remarkable artist. A genius of his time. I would like to recall him as that. Let us celebrate his life and his art rather than his death.

He was not just the frontman for Nirvana. He was a father, a lover and a son. A person just like you and me who needed to be heard and understood.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

I am really a beach/outdoorsy/nature-loving type of person and I find it extremely hard to transition back into my condo dwellings after a nice vacation. Manila weather doesn't help much either. One minute, it's breezy, the next it's sweltering hot. Even mall airconditioning systems don't help. Sometimes it's freezing cold and other times it seems like they turn it off for awhile to save up on electricity leaving you hot in your sweater.

I'm not sure if I'm the only one who experiences this but after a beach trip, I feel like my body still retains a lot of the heat even after a day of being back in the city. It's like my skin gets really used to being almost totally naked and prefers to reject any piece of clothing attempting to attach itself to it.

When I got back from my trip, I stared at my closet and was dumbfounded, as in a total blank. The weather was too warm for layering but too cold for tank tops and shorts. I tried slipping myself into a pair of jeans but I hated the feeling of being "trapped" in such constricting leg conditions (haha!) so I immediately took them off.

What's the best and easiest thing to wear when you don't know what to wear? Black and white. A nice and comfortable white top is essential in anyone's closet. They are lifesavers. Pair with black shorts, pants, or skirt and you're good to go. No brainer. Easiest thing ever. Just put on some statement shoes or bag and you'll look slick in no time!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The Malasimbo event was held on sacred Mangyan grounds. The first ever event allowed on their turf. It was a natural amphitheater, breathtakingly beautiful and remote. Perfect for an event such as this one. To get there, you need to ride in one of many shuttle services provided by the event organizers, up the steep mountain. From there, it's a long trek down and a real pain heading up on the way home.

The mountainside was littered with numerous installation art pieces by Olivia d'Boville (I think so, not so sure about this one), more photos of the art in my part 3 (we had 3 cameras with us and I still need to sort things out)

Adjacent to the concert area was a sort of museum which featured the various traditional houses of the Mangyan tribe: such a beautiful treehouse...I always wanted one...

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Busy, busy, busy day today for me. I feel a little overwhelmed! Another thing that's dragging my spirits down a little bit is that my period came yesterday, making me feel a bit sluggish. What's more disappointing is that it came more than a week delayed and it couldn't have chosen a better time to appear! I'm off for a music festival in the BEACH (!) tomorrow so that might mean no swimming for me =( I hope it's gone by then or at least eases up A LOT. Really been looking forward to this trip and I don't wanna end up sitting it out on the shore.

Part of my "to do list" for Today:

Fix my daughter's things for 3 nights..

Drop her off at mom's

A lot of last minute shopping for the trip

Visit the courier

Tweeze my eyebrows

Plan my outfits

Pack

I'm sure there's a bunch of other things but this is all i can deal with right now. Listing it down makes it seem less daunting. Have a great day!!!!

oh, and Yahoo for 166 followers! Thanks C! Couldn't have done it without you! Mwah! =)

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Good Morning Ladies! Today, I would like to talk about "personal shopping bans". They don't work PERIOD. I tried putting myself on a ban about a month ago because I noticed that I've been buying too many pairs of shoes. I know there's no such thing as "too many" when it comes to shoes but the way it affected my bank account was short of staggering! haha (i'm exagerrating a little. I have a very small bank account and any blow to it, no matter how small, is staggering.). It came to a point when I had more shoes than clothes that I could match it with. That's not when the alarm set off. It set off a few weeks after I started compensating my over supply of shoes with clothes to match them with. At the same time, my credit card bill arrived, my cellphone bill arrived, and all sorts of other bills arrived. That's when I said, "uh-oh".

So, I declared a personal shopping ban on myself. Right when this ban was implemented, I felt immediately like a heroin addict with my daily supply taken away from me. The moment something interesting came my way, I HAD to have it. And funny enough, right when my ban started, everything seemed to either go on sale or have a fresh supply of new and lovely clothes and footwear on display. I ended up buying more things than when I wasn't on "the ban". It's like how a chronic dieter must feel when presented with a box of premium Belgian chocolates. You'd normally have just a piece or two on a regular day but since you've been so good for three days, you compensate and eat the whole box. Ending up you eat/spend more than you would normally do due to over compensation for our good behavior. Sometimes, I think we love ourselves just a little too much! haha!

Right now, I feel sort of trapped. I'm just wishing myself luck and a bigger income because I don't know what to do. Maybe I should move to a deserted island for a month just to stay away from all the retail. it doesn't help that I live a block away from a "super awesome" shopping center. I need all the restraint I can muster! Tell me, do personal shopping bans work for you?